Inostrancevia

Inostrancevia

a genus of extinct pelycosaurs of the suborder Theriodontia. The reptile was named in honor of the Russian geologist A. A. Inostrantsev. Measuring up to 3 m long, it had very powerful saber-like canine teeth, probably intended for attacking large animals. The skeleton was relatively light, which evidently was linked with the predator’s great mobility. Inostrancevia skeletons were found by the Russian scientist V. P. Amalitskii in the Upper Permian deposits in the Severnaia Dvina River.

Examples of these creatures include an inostrancevia alexandri, a creature the size of a large bear with 5-inch-long saber-like teeth; the skull of an estemmenosuchus mirabilis, a reptile with horns reminiscent of a moose and the skeleton of a mongolemys, an ancient aquatic turtle that lived during the time of dinosaurs.

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